Windsor Ladies First XI edged closer to clinching promotion as Trysports Division 1 champions after a 4-1 win against Oxford Hawks Ladies 5s.
Playing at home, Windsor had a whirlwind start with fullbacks Gerry Hyde and Jessi Nagi dominating the flanks.
And it was Nagi who set up Lucy Smith for the first goal in the twelfth minute with a neat pass.
Taking the ball and twisting and turning, Smith dodged past four defenders to drill a shot across the goal and into the far corner.
But just three minutes later Hawks swooped on a loose ball in a dangerous area and with Windsor caught high up the pitch and outnumbered at the back, it was left to keeper Emma Cross to come to the rescue.
While the first shot was saved, the ball was drilled back in and bobbled awkwardly on the line with the resulting goalmouth scramble netting Hawks the equaliser.
Undeterred, Windsor ramped up the intensity and pinned Hawks into their own half of the pitch with Octavia Highfield winning everything in midfield.
And the hosts got a massive boost when talisman captain Freya Hayter made a welcome return after injury and almost scored from a penalty corner within minutes of coming on.
Her sweeping strike looked certain to hit the backboard but the Hawks goalie made a stunning save to keep her team in the game.
Windsor kept the pressure on in the second half and Mel Van Huffel - who looked lively all game - raced along the left wing and into the D and shot only to see the strike saved by the keeper.
But Elle Gatehouse was perfectly placed to pick up the rebound and slam it home from point blank range to give Windsor a 2-1 lead in the fortieth minute.
Hawks fought to get back in the game but the frantic pace was causing the visitors problems and while they had some moments of good link up play, there was little threat to the Windsor goal.
And Windsor strengthened their lead when Hayter signalled she was back with a signature run from the halfway line, skillfully dodging past the midfield and defence to calmly slot the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1.
The two goal cushion saw Windsor relax with the best hockey saved for the last 10 minutes.
And a terrific run on the right from Van Huffel saw her take the ball into the D and fire a shot to the far post where Maxine Bonnage was waiting to tap it in and bury the game at 4-1.
The win keeps Windsor at the top of the table with arch rivals Milton Keynes still three points behind but with a game in hand.
The Buckinghamshire side had a rest week but dropped vital points following a 2-1 home defeat to Oxford Ladies 4s.
With a nailbiting climax to the season on the cards, Windsor host Banbury Ladies 2s on Saturday, March 21 while Milton Keynes are at home to Amersham & Chalfont Ladies 3s.
Watch this space!